Discussing new ways to meet the needs of law firm clients, mediation parties, negotiators, and law students.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Back To School: Some Thoughts About the Unique Location of the Appalachian School of Law

Unique Location of the Appalachian School of law

Classes for our incoming 1L students start this coming Friday. I plan to use this week to remind faculty, students, alumni,and incoming students about what makes the Appalachian School of Law so special.

Yes, this is a shameless plug. But, in a southeastern market where students can choose between being a name at a mission-driven school and being a number at a for-profit school, I want to remind us all why ASL stands out.

For a wonderful account of Grundy written by Cheryl Isaac, a Liberian refugee who moved here a few years ago, see here. She describes in detail her love of the community. She says: "I just knew the town's generous mountains, flowing creeks, warm skies, light mist, and spunky birds would help me complete the first draft of my book about a formerly peaceful Liberian childhood assaulted by war and trauma."

She continues: "I felt God in its mountains and creeks . . . . [I]n order to truly see Grundy, you must have the kind of vision that surpasses its narrow roads . . . in order to see the gift that its nature conceals, a gift so rare that once the veil is lifted from your eyes, you see the town for what it really is: a treasure valley."

She concludes: "I am fully aware this Southern town has transformed me, an unexplainable joy crawls from my belly, sweeps across my face, and becomes one with the creek, slowly treading its way through Edgewater Drive, through Grundy, through Buchanan County, through Virginia, and onwards, ready and willing to connect with a destiny that is bigger, more expansive, and even more challenging."

Our location also supports our new Natural Resource Law program, which is described here and here.

About Me

She helps people learn the skills they need to lead happier lives, solve problems effectively, and resolve conflict holistically with wisdom, skill, and heart.

The Virginia Mediation Network
(VMN), the largest statewide group of mediation practitioners, trainers, and
scholars gave her its first Distinguished Mediator Award in 2010. Who’s Who
in America recognizes her as among top
executives and professionals. Martindale-Hubbell
lists her as an AV-Rated Preeminent
Woman Lawyer with highest peer ratings for legal ability and ethics
(2002-2013).

She works as a Clinical Professor
of Law at Qatar University College of Law. She teaches legal research and writing, group facilitation, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, dispute resolution
system design, environmental dispute resolution, and insurance
practice.

Before
she joined academia, Prof. Young was a partner
in a St. Louis law firm -- McCarthy Leonard -- providing nearly 20 years of
experience as a commercial dispute litigator, mediator, and arbitrator
specializing in contract disputes, insurance, reinsurance, and energy law. Before that, Prof. Young practiced as an
associate in one of the largest law firms in the world - Skadden Arps – in its Washington, D.C. office engaged in an oil and
gas and public utility law
practice. She also worked in the Energy
Department of the largest law firm in
Oklahoma after graduating from law school.

Prof. Young has written over 50 law
review publications, book chapters, book reviews, and op-ed articles on
mediation, arbitration, insurance law, and energy law. Her
publications appear in law journals, bar journals, and at mediate.com.